Preserving Collections of the National Afro-American Museum & Cultural Center

FAIN: PG-51443-11

Ohio History Connection (Columbus, OH 43211-2474)
Charles Wash (Project Director: May 2010 to February 2013)

The purchase of archival supplies to preserve collections documenting African American local and national history. The holdings cover historical issues such as enslavement and manumission of people of African descent, African American military history, and civil rights. The 650 linear feet of materials also include records on local government leaders, family papers, and a significant collection of documents and artifacts pertaining to Alex Haley, the author of "Roots."

The NEH Preservation Assistance Grant for Smaller Institutions will provide support for the processing and preservation of the National African American Museum and Cultural Center (NAAMCC) archive collections. The NAAMCC is a site in the Ohio Historical Society museum system. NAAMCC will use the NEH grant funding to purchase supplies essential to secure and maintain the integrity and accessibility of the exceptional archival materials entrusted to NAAMCC.The NAAMCC collections serve as a window into African American history and culture and are an invaluable resource for a variety of audiences. Over the past 20 years, the collections have become one of the largest of their kind preserved in an institution dedicated to African American history and culture. Materials from the collections are essential components of the institution's permanent exhibition and have been featured in numerous in-house and national traveling exhibitions, educational programs, and publications.